Mankato Area Youth Symphony Orchestra
Events & News
Becky Buller & Ned Luberecki join MAYSO!
MAYSO is thrilled that International Bluegrass Music Award (IMBA) recipients Becky Buller and Ned Luberecki will be guest artists for MAYSO's Summer Session concert on June 18. In addition to playing their own tunes, Becky and Ned will team up with MAYSO's Summer Pops Orchestra to perform several of her pieces arranged by Mankato composer Benji Inniger. We hope to see you there!
Here's a little about the duo:
The 2016 IBMA Fiddler and Female Vocalist and the 2018 IBMA Banjo Player have combined their musical wit and whimsy with the aim to entertain you in a bluegrass duo sort of way!
Becky Buller has written songs for the likes of The Traveling McCourys, The Infamous Stringdusters, Special Consensus, Rhonda Vincent, Doyle Lawson, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Kenny & Amanda Smith, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, and many more. She heads up the Becky Buller Band (of which Ned is a member); she teaches private music lessons from her home studio in Manchester, Tenn.; she serves on the board of the IBMA Foundation; she’s Jeff’s wife and Romy’s mama. Her latest album, Distance And Time, was a 2021 IBMA Album Of The Year award nominee. She is a 10-time IBMA award winner and records for the Dark Shadow Recording label.
Ned Luberecki is one of our favorite voices on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio’s Bluegrass Junction, heading up Saturday’s “Derailed” show and “More Banjo Sunday”, which includes the ever-popular “Sunday Banjo Lesson”. The Bluegrass Junction team received a 2016 IBMA Distinguished Achievement award. Ned is an internationally recognized banjo guru: he teaches online lessons, has a series of banjo instructional videos with TrueFire and a series of books with Alfred Publishing. Ned is also the voice of the IBMA Award Show. He has two singles that are doing well on the radio airplay charts: “Back In Baltimore” and “Magrathea”; listen for them wherever you grab your music. Ned and his wife, Kelley, live in Nashville, Tenn.
With guest artists Becky Buller and Ned Luberecki!
MAYSO is offering two levels of orchestra for Summer Session. Selections for the orchestra are drawn from folk, movie, musical theater, and popular culture.
Pops Orchestra is open to string, wind, and percussion student musicians of all playing abilities. It is recommended that students in this orchestra have 2 or more years of experience on their instrument and are comfortable reading music. Rehearsals are 2 hours on Sundays.
Pops Orchestra Lite is geared toward younger and beginning string students. It affords them the opportunity to play with the Pops Orchestra on parts that are fit to their note reading and playing ability. They will rehearse for 1 hour with the Pops Orchestra and also receive a 30 minute sectional to help them learn their music. This group is recommended for first time orchestra players or students who have 2 or less years of experience note read and playing their instrument.
Please reach out to the directors if you have questions about which group is appropriate for your child.
There is no audition and the participation fee is $25. Scholarships are available.
Rehearsals begin Sunday, March 26, 2023.
Concert: Sunday, June 18, 2023 | 3:00 P.M.
Mankato West High School Auditorium, Mankato MN 56001
Questions? Contact Dave Stordalen at info@mayso.net
MAYSO Winter Concerts: Fantastic Film Favorites
Saturday, March 11, 2023 | 2:00 PM
Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial High School
607 510th Ave, Lake Crystal, MN 56055
Sunday, March 12, 2023 | 3:00 PM
Trinity Chapel, Bethany Lutheran College
Luther Dr, Mankato, MN 56001
Join MAYSO for an afternoon of music drawn from film and television.
MAYSO Fall Concerts: Evening of Roses
Saturday, November 12, 2022 | 2:00 PM
Le Sueur High School, 901 Ferry St, Le Sueur, MN 56058
Sunday, November 13, 2022 | 3:00 PM
Trinity Chapel, Luther Dr, Mankato, MN 56001
These performances will be the premier of Evening of Roses a piece commissioned by MAYSO and arranged by local composer Benji Inniger. They will also feature works of and inspired by baroque composers. Free admission with donations accepted at the door.
Previous Events
Summer Session Concert: Spy Games
Sunday, June 12, 2:00 PM
Sigurd K. Lee Theater, Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center, Bethany Lutheran College
Free admission with donations accepted at the door
Spring Concerts: Symphonic Sensations
Saturday, March 12, 2022 | 2:00 P.M.
Gibbon, Fairfax, Winthrop High School
1001 Cottonwood St
Winthrop, MN 55396
Sunday, March 13, 2022 | 3:00 P.M.
Trinity Chapel, Bethany Lutheran College
Luther Dr
Mankato, MN 56001
Fall Concerts: Women's Work
Saturday, November 13 | 2:00 p.m.
Blue Earth Area Senior High School
1125 N Grove St
Blue Earth, MN 56013
Sunday, November 14 | 3:00 p.m.
Loyola Catholic School
145 Good Counsel Dr
Mankato, MN 56001
Mission Statement
The mission of the Mankato Area Youth Symphony Orchestras is to educate young musicians in a professional symphony atmosphere, to give opportunity to perform a wide variety of symphonic music, and to provide a variety of music education formats. It is our purpose to help prepare the young musician for participation in the world of symphonic music, either as a professional musician or as a patron of the arts.
The Mankato Area Youth Symphony Orchestra has been presenting concerts in our communities and teaching students since 1963.
We now offer several unique opportunities for students to play music including the Youth Symphony Orchestra, Youth Philharmonic, North Star Strings, Chamber Orchestra, Summer Pops Orchestra, and Percussion Ensemble
Ensembles
North Star Strings (NSS) is our introductory strings only orchestra. The goal of this ensemble is to introduce students to ensemble playing and help develop note reading. Students in this orchestra should have a minimum of 1 year of private lessons and should be able to read music. All students who apply are accepted into this ensemble.
Youth Philharmonic (YP) is our intermediate ensemble open to wind, percussion, and string musicians. YP students can expect to see more challenging key signatures (up to 4 flats or sharps), challenging rhythms, and shift into higher positions. These students will typically have between 3-6 years of experience on their instrument and may have prior ensemble experience.
Youth Symphony Orchestra (YSO) is our most advanced ensemble offered to wind, percussion, and string musicians. YSO students will typically have 4 or more years of experience on their instrument and have had prior ensemble experience. Repertoire for YSO will be selected from advanced high school or introductory collegiate level works.